Why’s that, you ask?

Well we’ve been commenting on this quite a bit these days on MGoSwim, but since it deals with the Lochtenator, we thought we’d bring it over here too.

We’ve noticed that it’s like Mike and Ryan have switched media personalities.

Ryan’s standard media interviews were littered with a string of “um’s” “uh’s” and general stuttering. But he’s dramatically cleaned up his speaking. As evidence, we present his latest interview with Orlando NBC affiliate WESH. I only counted one “um”! Groundbreaking!

Now, countering with Phelps‘ recent interviews, it’s easy to see he’s regressed!

We may or may not have created a drinking game that went along with Ryan’s interview slip-ups. So obviously we never thought this day would come. RyRy may have earned yet another case of Heineken. We’ve lost count. Really.

BTW, it’s nice to see Ryan ‘white boy fro’ coming back. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand, we’re cool with it.

If there’s one thing Gary Hall Jr. is good at, it’s making bold predictions pertaining to the Olympics.

I’m not sure giving the Aussies bulletin board material is the best idea, even if it does look like Team US has the upper hand on paper. Regardless, that’s what GHJ has done with his latest comments.

“You know as well as I do that it isn’t going to be close. The US team will win more Olympic medals than any other country. It’s not patriotism, it’s an insider’s perspective on the odds.

But tell us how you really feel, Gary!

Does everyone remember the big blow-up when Gary guaranteed results at the 2000 Olympics? I sure as hell do. In Sydney, he predicted that the USA 400 Free relay would beat the Aussie squad and “smash them like guitars”. That didn’t end well…

Confidence is a very good thing. But it’s best to let your swimming do the talking because actions always speak louder than words.

Stanford has developed quite the pipeline to Ohio and its swimming talent. We’ve mentioned Austin Staab and David Mosko, who are freshman now. But haven’t mentioned Nate Cass, who is in his 3rd year at Stanford.

Nate is also a local boy, like Adam Ritter. He did his high school swimming at Upper Arlington. (I recently posted about the rape controversy involving the men’s head coach; Nate’s former coach.) His entire family went to Ohio State, but he decided to carve his own path and head west. What a trend-setter!

In the summer of 2006, Nate caved to his Buckeye tendencies and swam with the Ohio State Swim Club at the CP Summer Nationals in Irvine, CA. Combining with the awesome Joe Doyle worked well as the Buckeyes turned in a 7th place men’s finish; and with just a handful of athletes.

Check out the new USA Swimming feature on Nate here. It’s always nice to see area swimmers thrive as their swimmer career continues. Keep it up, Nate!

PGA golfers will soon have to begin undergoing random drug tests.

Yea? So what’s the big deal?

That aint no thang to swimmers. They always have to comply with random drug tests.

Some golfers seem to think they are holier (cleaner?) than thou and shouldn’t be subjected to such injustices. No, I’m serious. Read this article from USA Today. This gem immediately jumped out at me:

Frank Lickliter told The Associated Press that any drug tester showing up at his house to do his job was “going to have a hard time getting off my property without a bullet in his (behind).”

Seriously? Over a drug test?

I don’t know where these golfers have been in the past year, but steroids and illegal performance-enhancing substances is a big concern in the sports world. With all the drama going down with regards to some of Baseball’s greats, are they really that surprised that the PGA is taking steps to avoid such a controversy within their sport?

Someone should have those objecting golfers talk to some of our Olympic swimmers about drug testing. I’m pretty sure that afterwards they would drop the attitude and shut the hell up!

Another great passage from the USA Today article:

If there’s a superstar in the U.S. Olympic movement, it’s swimmer Michael Phelps, who is expected to try for eight gold medals at the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Phelps has undergone 59 USADA tests since 2001, 59 times walking into a bathroom with a tester who watched just as PGA Tour testers will watch. He has been tested internationally countless more times.

Phelps has walked into and out of every one of those tests without complaint, realizing that this is what he must do for the privilege of representing his nation in international competition.

“Clean athletes all around the world at every level wholeheartedly support and endorse observed testing,” said USADA chief executive officer Travis Tygart. “They are desperate to show that they are clean.”

PREACH! I couldn’t have said it better myself.

The Swim Aids are big fans of Libby Lenton. There’s so much to love about her. And while you’re probably expecting a bulleted list of why we love her, we’re not going to bore you with the details of this girl crush. On to the news!

We haven’t posted about Libs (yea, just made that up) in a while and thought it was time to share an update.

• Libby is going to carry the Olympic Torch on its way to Beijing
• Libby was named top female athlete at the Australian Sports Awards
• Beijing could be Libby’s last Olympics

The Australian Olympic Trials begin March 22 and we wish Libby the best of luck, although we’re well aware that she doesn’t need it.

Just a fair warning: we will probably post little news round-ups for all of our swim chick crushes this spring. And no, they are not all US athletes. We’re equal opportunity around here!

Warning: Ignorance to follow

I watch Making the Band on MTV. That’s right. I admit it. What’s it to ya?! Tonight’s MTB4 episode had me rollin’!

Here’s a little background on me. I have always maintained that I do not swim. I can swim. I just don’t. I’ll leave it to the pros and just watch. I’m more of a hot tub girl; ya feel me?

The example I use is that if I’m on a boat, and it goes down, my black ass will swim. That’s about what it’d take. Black girls do not like getting their hair wet unless we have to. That’s just how it is. And don’t give me the swim cap crap. Not good enough protection for us sistas.

So tonight, Diddy gets the girls from Danity Kane and fellas from Day 26 on a yacht and the dialog from the guys was hilarious.

“Black folk need to just stay on land”

“Is the water gonna splash me?”

“I can’t swim…”

Other similar lines were aired during the segment that made me laugh. These quotes really are a common sentiment in the black community, though. To quote the infamous Karen Walker, “It’s funny because it’s true”.

We all know Erika has a thing for guys who rock the “retro” swim caps. So now we share with you this delightful picture of Ian Crocker from the Encore Swim meet in Austin.

So Erika, now that Crocker has thrown his cap into the ring, so to speak, does that mean he is now your new #1?

Inquiring minds would like to know.